Report cases of wrong test diagnoses made
HAVING seen it reported that TB is now the biggest killer of African South Africans (“TB biggest killer of SA’s Africans, February 3), I am surprised there has not been a greater outcry over the NHLS’s use of students to perform vital TB testing (“Students left on own to do TB tests”, January 26).
Disappointed by officials’ disregard for our road safety
MY wife was involved in an accident in which no one was injured on the Uitenhage road in Uitenhage, while travelling towards Port Elizabeth at approximately 12.20pm on January 27. My wife informed me of the accident soon after it occurred and requested me to call the police for assistance, which I immediately did.
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Don’t use our roads as dustbin
I TRAVEL extensively, and am still amazed how drivers tend to use our roads as their dustbins. People tend to throw their food wrappers, empty drinks bottles, etc out the windows of their vehicles while happily driving along.
Poor planning
I AM utterly astonished to see all the schools in the country open for the second term on April 10, the day after Easter Monday! We have all the initiatives for road safety in place and then an error in judgment such as this is made.
Crime, red tape killing business
THE headline that proclaims businessmen are ready to flee “crime-ridden” South Africa should be setting off alarm bells across the corridors of power throughout government.
Report tabled in council last year
Mayor must keep promise
OUR mayor, Zanoxolo Wayile, stated on May 31 last year: “The bucket system is still with us, this is simply unforgivable and we will address this post- haste”.
Can anyone help?
MY most honest and reliable domestic worker of more than 20 years has over the past few years, taken in and is the sole carer for two children of deceased family members, and has been trying in vain to obtain foster grants for both children.
Stand on corruption supported
I WAS quite happy to hear that Cosatu was launching anti-graft watch and I am hopeful it will help the working class.
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Scheme loses my documents
I AM furious with the administration at Gems (Government Employees Medical Aid Scheme). Having complied with all the requirements as far as documentation goes, I am still waiting for confirmation of membership.
SA minister worthy of top AU post
LAST week saw an intense lobbying process for the African Union Commission chairmanship that South Africa, our beloved country, contested, fielding one of the finest cadres our liberation movement has ever produced. The AU has experienced democracy in practice in this instance (“SA in AU vote deadlock drama”, January 31).
Contacts, not qualifications get plum job
ON Tuesday, I read a report that the SABC board had been asked by the minister to suspend its current search for a chief operating officer and cast its net wider. The way I read the board actions is that it had just one person in mind for the second most powerful position in the organisation.
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Go back to tertiary education basics
IN the aftermath of the University of Johannesburg’s “stampede” Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande proposed some options which he might explore to avoid similar incidents in future, inter alia:
Nothing done about corruption
WHAT a disgrace (“City’s ‘misspent’ millions”, January 31). We are so sick of hearing about how our city fathers plunder the finances of our municipality. Nothing is ever done about it.
Thousands of engineers in SA
WITH reference to the article, “R6m boost for engineers’ training” (January 11), the statement that there are “less than 1000 engineers in the country” had me gob-smacked!
Liner avoiding the bad weather
MHLABA Memela’s article published on January 30, “It’s safety first aboard gigantic Queen Mary 2”, could not be further from the truth regarding the MSC Sinfonia’s docking in Port Elizabeth!
Prompt action to fix problem
MONDAY afternoon’s wind brought down an electrical overhead supply cable onto my steel palisade fence. I phoned (041) 374-4434 to report this, which took a while to get through understandably.
Give your opinion at secrecy bill hearing
THE “secrecy bill” public hearings have kick-started this week on a country-wide tour. These hearings are aimed at affording the public an opportunity to voice their opinions on some of the pertinent issues contained in this bill which adversely affect media freedom and the constitutional rights of whistle-blowers.
Kids must know dangers of modern technology
I AM shocked, devastated and saddened by the report on explicit sexual images of school kids on cellphones for all to see (“Matrics in porn scandal”, January 27). I feel sorry for the families of these kids.
Rather solve library issue
I COULD not help but notice mayor Zanoxolo Wayile visited shopping malls in the metro last week to collect shoes and uniforms for school children. He should rather spend his valuable time with the unions to solve the three-year-long dispute which resulted in the closure of libraries on Saturdays.
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TOO many children at young ages are exposed to explicit sexual material which is easily accessible if they have cellphones. It is disturbing and alarming.
We need power, so drop scare tactics
SO some of the residents in the St Francis/Cape St Francis area are about to be irradiated if Eskom builds a nuclear power station at Thyspunt! According to the article, “Thyspunt cancer fears” (January 25), it has been found in France that in the period 2002 to 2007 of the 11 million children living in France a total of 2753 cases of childhood leukaemia (15 years and younger) were diagnosed (that is, 0.0005%).
Fix road on cycle route
THE Herald Cycle Tour is this Sunday and the Ironman event is on the doorstep.
Small businesses need support
THERE are companies in our society that strive to improve and add value to the lives of poor and desolate people in our country, rather than pass the buck and point fingers at others.
Poor service during outage
ON Monday we experienced an electricity outage in Mill Park. In calling to report the outage, there was no answer to the number given. In calling the call centre, all operators were busy.
Prompt help at tax office
I HAD to go to SARS in Chapel Street to obtain a tax return form for my daughter, who now resides in Australia, as I had not had a reply to my letter to SARS dated December 14.
Doing excellent job with projects to enhance the city
PIERRE Voges is to be commended on his healthily optimistic take on the future of our metro, as aired in his comprehensive report in The Herald (“Transforming the armpit of SA into a city of pride”, January 25). His enthusiasm is infectious, as he describes the projects which the Mandela Bay Development Agency has, to date, driven in the city.
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IF only Heyneke Meyer had been appointed four years ago, the Boks would still be champs, not the chumps they became under Peter de Villiers. Congrats Heyneke.
Visitors damage beach environment, wildlife
EVERY year in the run-up to the Christmas/New Year holidays, I am reminded by the local residents as to the benefits the influx of holiday people brings to the Ndlambe area.
Article source: http://www.peherald.com/news/article/4709
